Vascular territory segmentation using mutual clustering information from image space and label space

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, computer programs, circuits and workstations are configured to generate at least one two-dimensional weighted CBF territory map of color-coded source artery locations using an automated vascular segmentation process to identify source locations using mutual connectivity in both image and label space.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/788,826, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

BACKGROUND

Carotid or vertebrobasilar stenosis restricts distal blood flow, which decreases blood supply to the parts of the brain subserved by these vessels, and increases the risk of ischemic stroke. Surgical intervention with carotid endarterectomy or endovascular angioplasty/stenting is generally pursued if the diameter of the lumen of the internal carotid artery (ICA) is reduced more than 70%, which is typically documented by noninvasive imaging. Collateral circulation increases in the brain as a normal physiologic mechanism to by-pass and compensate for the blockage in the main artery. In some cases, this increased collateral flow can supply enough oxygenated blood to maintain adequate cerebral perfusion for supporting brain function in symptom free patients. The importance of adequate hemodynamic compensation via collateral circulation has been shown in patients with cerebral arterial stenosis.

Focal arterial stenosis can be clinically evaluated using a variety of imaging methods, including duplex ultrasound, computed tomography angiogram (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Although invasive CT-based methods have been used for qualitative assessment of vascular territory perfusion, quantitative mapping of blood flow from individual source arteries is still not practical in the clinical setting. Vascular territory mapping using arterial spin labeling (ASL) has been proposed, but currently typically requires complicated planning prior to scanning and extensive post-processing, which hinders the practical clinical use of these methods. Psuedo-continuous ASL (PCASL) tagging can be used for vessel-encoded ASL (VE-ASL) utilizing gradients applied during the tagging period to spatially encode multiple feeding arteries. See, e.g., Wong, MRM, 58: 1086-1091, 2007; ISMRIM; 581, 2012; and Wong and Guo, MAGMA 25: 95-101, 2012. Strategies has been devised for the detection of source arteries without a priori knowledge of vessel locations using a random encoding scheme (see, Wong & Guo, 19th ISMRM: 294, 2011) or a Fourier encoding scheme (see, Jung, 20^(th) ISMRM: 581, 2012). The source artery location at the labeling plane is estimated on a voxel-wise basis in the image volume but a territory often needs to be manually identified. The source location of a territory is often wide-spread due to noise and large vessel diameters, becoming more complicated when the labeling plane includes a large number of source arteries.

There is a need for clinically acceptable methods for visualization and quantification of perfusion territories from major feeding arteries in the brain.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, systems and circuits that can automatically segment an image volume into separate vascular territories using mutual clustering in image and label space.

Embodiments of the invention provide systems, methods, circuits, workstations and methods suitable for automated vascular territory mapping for resolving source locations and to determine if multiple sources in different perfusion territories are from a single artery.

Embodiments of the invention may be particularly useful for MRI brain scans for evaluation of large artery diseases, cerebral vascular disease, and carotid stenosis and may also be useful for stroke, especially thromboembolic stroke, and/or for evaluation of treatments or clinical trials.

Embodiments of the invention may be implemented as a routine brain scan for neurological evaluations due to the automated processing and short MRI signal acquisition time required for vascular mapping that can be provided in a color map that represents both location of source arteries (typically by a predefined different color for each artery and/or location direction) and amount of perfusion (typically in brightness and/or opacity).

Some embodiments are directed to methods of color mapping brain vascular perfusion using MRI. The color map can indicate the associated feeding artery per voxel in unique colors. For example, right internal carotid artery may be depicted in blue, left internal carotid artery in red, and right vertebral artery in cyan, and left vertebral artery in yellow.

The methods can include displaying the at least one map on a clinician workstation.

The segmentation analysis can be carried out using a processor associated with an MR Scanner and/or at least one clinician workstation.

Some embodiments are directed to image and/or data processing circuits configured to carry out any of the above steps or features.

It is noted that aspects of the invention described with respect to one embodiment, may be incorporated in a different embodiment although not specifically described relative thereto. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination. Further, any feature or sub-feature claimed with respect to one claim may be included in another future claim without reservation and such shall be deemed supported in the claims as filed. Thus, for example, any feature claimed with respect to a method claim can be alternatively claimed as part of a system, circuit, computer readable program code or workstation. Applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to be able to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. These and other objects and/or aspects of the present invention are explained in detail in the specification set forth below.

The foregoing and other objects and aspects of the present invention are explained in detail herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a sequence of exemplary automated vascular segmentation steps for vascular territory mapping according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is an image with exemplary label plane locations according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2B shows the estimated source locations overlaid on maximum intensity projection (MIP) of the upper label location of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C shows corresponding CBF weighted territory maps for FIG. 2B.

FIG. 2D is an image with estimated source locations overlaid on MIP of the lower label location of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2E shows corresponding CBF weighted territory maps for FIG. 2D.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of operations that can be used for vascular territory mapping according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4C are schematic illustrations of systems and circuits that can be configured to provide the Fourier encoded ASL according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a data processing circuit according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. In the figures, certain layers, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity, and broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise. In addition, the sequence of operations (or steps) is not limited to the order presented in the figures and/or claims unless specifically indicated otherwise. In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers, features, components and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity and broken lines illustrate optional features or operations, unless specified otherwise. Features described with respect to one figure or embodiment can be associated with another embodiment of figure although not specifically described or shown as such.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” are used herein to describe various actions, steps or components and should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one action, step or component from another action, step or component. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

The term “circuit” refers to an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, features and/or components (including, for example, a processor and software associated therewith embedded therein and/or executable by, for programmatically directing and/or performing certain described actions or method steps).

The term “programmatically” means that the operation or step can be directed and/or carried out by a digital signal processor and/or computer program code. Similarly, the term “electronically” means that the step or operation can be carried out in an automated manner using electronic components rather than manually or using any mental steps.

The terms “MRI scanner” or MR scanner” are used interchangeably to refer to a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system and includes the high-field magnet and the operating components, e.g., the RF amplifier, gradient amplifiers and processors that typically direct the pulse sequences and select the scan planes. Examples of current commercial scanners include: GE Healthcare: Signa 1.5 T/3.0 T; Philips Medical Systems: Achieva 1.5 T/3.0 T; Integra 1.5 T; Siemens: MAGNETOM Avanto; MAGNETOM Espree; MAGNETOM Symphony; MAGNETOM Trio; and MAGNETOM Verio. As is well known, the MR scanner can include a main operating/control system that is housed in one or more cabinets that reside in an MR control room while the MRI magnet resides in the MR scan room. The control room and scan room can be referred to as an MR suite and the two rooms can be separated by an RF shield wall. The term “high-magnetic field” refers to field strengths above about 0.5 T, typically above 1.0 T, and more typically between about 1.5 T and 10 T. Embodiments of the invention may be particularly suitable for 1.5 T, 2.0 T and 3.0 T systems, or higher field systems such as future contemplated systems at 4.0 T, 5.0 T, 6.0 T and the like. The methods and systems can also be applied to animal MRI data acquired from animal MRI scanners. The term “patient” refers to humans and animals.

The term “automatically” and derivatives thereof means that the operation and/or method can be substantially, and typically entirely, carried out without manual input, and is typically programmatically directed and/or carried out. The term “electronically” with respect to connections includes both wireless and wired connections between components.

The term “clinician” means physician, neurologist, radiologist, physicist, or other medical personnel desiring to review medical data of a patient. The term “workstation” refers to a display and/or computer associated with a clinician.

The term “reconstruction” is used broadly to refer to original or post-acquisition and storage and subsequent construction of image slices or images of an image data set.

Each article, reference and patent cited or discussed herein is hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for evaluating MRI image data but can also be useful for post-acquisition analysis of image data from other imaging modalities, including CT (computed tomography) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography), for example.

The term “color-coded” (or color-encoded) refer to a defined unique color or color scale of pixels/voxels correlated to source artery location and/or blood flow direction to illustrate vessel (e.g., source artery) and blood flow direction.

The color map(s) can have both x- and y-directional modulation so that a user can visually ascertain which source artery and/or direction the source artery is located for particular perfusion regions. The color map(s) can indicate the associated feeding artery per voxel in unique colors. For example, right internal carotid artery may be displayed in blue, left internal carotid artery in red, and right vertebral artery in cyan, and left vertebral artery in yellow. Thus, for example, in x-direction modulation, a first color, such as blue, represents that the source artery is to the right while a second color, such as red, indicates that the source artery is to the left. One color, e.g., red, can refer to “from anterior” and another color, e.g., yellow, can refer to “from posterior” in y directional modulation. The color-coded map can also be configured to illustrate an amount of perfusion by a scale of brightness such that brightness indicates intensity of each voxel that is proportional to blood flow for a respective voxel. Also, to comply with patent filing rules, black and white copies or grey scale versions of these images may be used in support of the application.

The term “about” refers to a parameter that can vary from the recited value, typically between +/−20%. For time parameters in minutes or hours, for example, the stated value includes times that are +/−5 minutes of that number.

The term “time of flight” (TOF) refers to MRI angiography that is based on the phenomenon of flow-related enhancement of spins entering into an imaging slice. As a result of being unsaturated, these spins can produce more signal that surrounding stationary spins.

PCASL-based VE-ASL methods often require long scan times and complicated clustering algorithms to classify multiple vascular territories. Embodiments of the invention can be used as an analysis tool or module with systems that are configured to perform VE-ASL.

The term “label space” refers to the 2-D space in the neck of a patient where blood signal is labeled when it passes a respective defined plane.

The term “cluster” or “clustering” refers to a set of contiguous or neighboring voxels of image data that have at least one substantially similar (e.g., the same) value image parameter. Typically, the image parameter is source location in Cartesian coordinates (e.g., a cluster of neighboring voxels having an intensity at the same x, y position or within 1 unit of position in either an x- or y- or x- and y-direction). For example, voxels sharing at least one common edge can be considered as neighbors (the 18 connectivity scheme for a 3-D image). For example, for a 3×3×3 voxel cube in a 3-D space, all the voxels including or except eight corner voxels are considered to be connected to the voxel at the center.

The term “territory” and derivatives thereof refer to renderings of (2-D or 3-D) vascular maps with related vascular sources or related potential vascular sources identified in like color. The term “clustered territory” means a 2-D or 3-D territory that has at least one common x, y source vessel location based on electronically identified clusters of like voxels.

The terms “weighted CBF territory map” and “CBF weighted territory map” are used interchangeably and mean that proportions of blood flow indicated in the map are scaled to reflect qualitative or quantitative measures of blood flow, preferably quantitative measures of blood flow.

Generally stated, embodiments of the invention provide automated vascular territory segmentation algorithms using connectivity information from both image space and label space. The territory segmentation algorithms have two assumptions: (1) a territory may have multiple source locations depending on the detection resolution, vessel diameter, and vessel turns in the label plane but the multiple locations must be neighboring; and (2) a single artery may supply multiple non-contiguous areas because of branching after leaving the labeling plane.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a sequence of analysis steps that can be used to provide an automated (electronic) vascular territory segmentation to segment an image volume into separate vascular territories. FIG. 1 illustrates steps of a segmentation algorithm or module that uses source location in (x, y) coordinates of a coordinate system. The coordinate system is typically a Cartesian coordinate system.

First (shown as Step 1), three dimensional (3-D) connectivity can be applied to source image data to identify clustering with a small cluster size in image space on a voxel-wise basis to generate clustered territories. Each clustered territory has a same source location in (x, y) coordinates. The clustering can identify small clusters of contiguous or neighboring voxels of at least about 4-6 voxels that have the same source location. The small cluster size can include clusters of at least 4-6 neighboring voxels, typically 4 or more neighboring voxels. Smaller clusters, with a smaller cluster size less than 4 neighboring voxels, can be used as a threshold to reject associated voxels as being contaminated by noise. The 3-D connectivity can be carried out simply using physical contiguity. For example, the voxels having connectivity are voxels that are physically in contact in the image space. The source image data can include any medical image data set. In some embodiments, the source image data comprises MRI image data of a patient's brain with source locations in A/P and R/L directions.

Next (shown as Step 2 in FIG. 1), the source locations of territories from Step 1 are mapped in 2-D label space and the sources are clustered based on spatial connectivity. The 2-D clustering can be carried out again based simply on physical contiguity and/or based on a statistical distribution. In particular embodiments, the 2-D clustering analysis that establishes source locations is based on physical contact. This is applied based on assumption 1 noted above.

As shown in Step 3, territories corresponding to the source clusters from Step 2 are generated. Multiple 3-D spatial clusters may stem from a single source based on assumption 2.

Next, as shown in Step 4, from each territory identified in Step 3, the center of mass (e.g., the centroid) to label space is calculated and tested to determine if multiple territories are from a same source. Clusters are regarded from the same source if the calculated distances between cluster centroids is smaller than a detection resolution defined in the source image data. For example, the case shown in FIG. 1 has the detection resolutions of 3 mm in A/P (or in y-direction) and 9 mm in R/L (or in x-direction). The clustered source(s) in Step 2 may now be separated into multiple sources if the distances between cluster centroids are larger than the detection resolution. The separation may indicate that the multiple sources were clustered in Step 2 due to proximity but they act as independent sources. As shown for Step 5, a thresholding and vascular connectivity test can be carried out for further resolving source location using the centroid calculations and sources can be numbered and presented in color coding. The analysis can identify a reduced number of territories relative to the thresholding and vascular connectivity test. Small territories (e.g., about 30 voxels or less) can be rejected as not containing sufficient vascular source information and hence are not used to create a CBF territory map.

Optionally, source locations of surviving territories can be validated at this stage using a high resolution MR angiogram with a region growing algorithm obtained at the label plane to determine if multiple sources are from the same artery. The “validation” may be particularly appropriate where a single artery generates two source locations in a territory due to a lateral turn in labeling space.

As shown in FIG. 1, the CBF map and MRA (if provided) can be used to generate a CBF color territory map and a separate source estimation map with sources identified in color and number. The source estimation map numbers can be ordered based on cluster size, from smallest to largest (or the reverse).

The above analysis protocol/algorithm was tested using data obtained with Fourier encoded ASL (2) in the A/P direction and with a phase offset in the R/L direction. The detection resolution was 3 mm in A/P and 9 mm in R/L. A maximum intensity projection (MIP) image from a time-of-flight angiogram (1 cm thickness) was used to overlay estimates of source locations and determine if multiple sources are from a single artery moving laterally within the labeling space.

FIGS. 2A-2E show results from placement of the labeling plane at two locations: a superior location where multiple branches of the middle cerebral artery supply cortical gyri (blue in FIG. 2A), and a more inferior location 2 cm above the circle of willis (red in FIG. 2B). The proposed algorithm segmented the images into 19 (FIG. 2B) and 12 perfusion territories (FIG. 2C), respectively. There was one territory in which two sources were actually from a single artery due to lateral turn in the labeling space. Small branches from thalamo-perforators to the thalamus (orange and blue, source 9 and 10, FIG. 2C) and lenticulostriates to the basal ganglia (green, sources 11 and 7, FIG. 2C) are identified. The algorithm was able to resolve separate territories even with the neighboring sources (purple and blue, sources 10 and 19, FIG. 2B).

FIG. 2A shows the label plane locations “upper” and “lower.” FIGS. 2B and 2-D show the estimated source locations overlaid on MIP images of the respective label location and FIGS. 2C and 2E show corresponding CBF weighted territory maps from the upper (FIG. 2C) and the lower (FIG. 2-D) labeling locations. Numbering was ordered based on cluster size.

Because the analysis method/circuit or program uses mutual connectivity in both image and label space, the capability of segmenting two neighboring territories can be limited when they are clustered in Step 2 and 3. As noted above, a high detection resolution may be used to confirm a separation in this situation. Verification of the vascular connectivity in Step 5 may also or alternatively use manual editing. However, the analysis may potentially be totally automated through the use of a high resolution MRA and a region growing algorithm.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of exemplary operations that can be used to carry out embodiments of the present invention. The operations can be implemented using a computer program product and/or at least one processor to provide an automated vascular segmentation algorithm based on vascular territory mapping. At least one source brain image can be provided from a medical image data set (block 150). A three-dimensional connectivity clustering analysis is electronically applied to the brain image data in image space on a voxel-wise basis to identify locations of small clusters of voxels having at least one similar image parameter (e.g., intensity) to identify a potential x, y source vessel location (block 155). A first quantity of clustered territories electronically generating based on the three-dimensional connectivity clustering analysis, each clustered territory having at least one associated source location in x, y coordinates (block 160). Then, source locations of the clustered territories in 2-D label space are electronically mapped with source locations clustered based on spatial connectivity (block 165). A respective clustered territory may have multiple neighboring source locations depending on detection resolution, vessel diameter, and vessel turns in a respective label plane. A second quantity of clustered territories can be electronically generated based on the mapped source locations (block 170). The second quantity of clustered territories can be less than the first quantity of clustered territories. Multiple three-dimensional spatial clusters may be associated with a single source. Then, a center of mass and/or centroid distance to label space is calculated for each of the second quantity of clustered territories (block 175). Then, a determination of whether multiple territories are associated with a single source is performed. Different clustered territories are identified as belonging to a single source if the calculated distance between centroids is smaller than a detection resolution (block 180).

Optionally, a color-coded weighted cerebral blood flow (CBF) territory map can be electronically generated, as may a source location estimation map with source locations in color and a numbered order associated with cluster size.

The MRI signal acquisition can be carried out without requiring the use of an administered contrast agent. The vascular color-coded tissue map can be used to identify functional changes in vascular distributions, as well as quantitative measures of blood flow per voxel. This information can be useful for individualized surgical planning and may be more predictive of a resultant stroke than velocity information from ultrasound or measures of ICA luminal diameter.

Embodiments of the present invention may take the form of an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium. Any suitable computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, optical storage devices, a transmission media such as those supporting the Internet or an intranet, or magnetic storage devices. Some circuits, modules or routines may be written in assembly language or even micro-code to enhance performance and/or memory usage. It will be further appreciated that the functionality of any or all of the program modules may also be implemented using discrete hardware components, one or more application specific integrated circuits (asics), or a programmed digital signal processor or microcontroller. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to a particular programming language.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Java®, Smalltalk or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the present invention may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on another computer, local and/or remote or entirely on the other local or remote computer. In the latter scenario, the other local or remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein, in part, with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing some or all of the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams of certain of the figures herein illustrate exemplary architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flow charts or block diagrams represents a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order or two or more blocks may be combined, or a block divided and performed separately, depending upon the functionality involved.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate exemplary image processing systems 10 with a Vascular Territory Segmentation circuit 200 and/or color coded brain vascular territory map module 201. The systems can be configured to automatically generate color vascular territory maps using rapid (e.g., under 5 minutes of active scanning) brain scans without requiring manual input for identification of arteries to carry out the image processing. The workstation and/or Scanner can each include at least one processor 60P, 75P, respectively, that can be configured to carry out all or part of the image analysis and image acquisition. The image analysis can be performed post-acquisition in a device separate from the Scanner used to acquire the image data.

FIG. 4A illustrates that the system 10 can include at least one workstation 60 that has an optional computer portal for accessing the module 201 and/or circuit 200. The module 201 can be held on a remote server accessible via a LAN, WAN, SAN or Internet. The workstation 60 can communicate with patient image data which may be held in a remote or local server, in the Scanner 75 or other electronically accessible database or repository. The workstation 60 can include a display with a GUI (graphic user input) and the access portal. The workstation can access the data sets via a relatively broadband high speed connection using, for example, a LAN or may be remote and/or may have lesser bandwidth and/or speed, and for example, may access the data sets via a WAN and/or the Internet. Firewalls may be provided as appropriate for security.

FIG. 4B illustrates that the circuit 200 and module 201 can be included in the MR Scanner 75 which can communicate with a workstation 60. The module 201 and/or circuit 200 can be integrated into the control cabinet of the MR Scanner with image processing or scan sequence control circuitry. FIG. 4C illustrates that the circuit 200 and/or module 201 can be integrated into one or more local or remote workstations 60 that communicates with the Scanner 75. Although not shown, parts of the circuit or module can be held on both the Scanner 75 and one or more workstations 60, which can be remote or local. The module and circuit can be combined or separated into further components.

The circuits and modules 200, 201 and methods of embodiments of the application can provide vascular territory mapping using non-contrast enhanced (NCE-) MRA methods.

Embodiments of the invention can be used clinically for various conditions including screening and analysis of impairments, disease and the like including, but not limited to, carotid artery stenosis. For the latter, it is expected that the degree of carotid stenosis can be identified based on a quantified collateral flow from the vascular territory mapping methods described herein.

The methods are also capable of resolving multiple sources feeding blood to a single voxel.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a circuit or data processing system 290. The system 290 can be used with any of the systems 10 and provide all or part of the circuit 200 and/or module 201. The circuits and/or data processing systems 290 data processing systems may be incorporated in a digital signal processor in any suitable device or devices. As shown in FIG. 5, the processor 410 can communicate with an MRI scanner 75 and/or workstation 60 with memory 414 via an address/data bus 448. The processor 410 can be any commercially available or custom microprocessor. The memory 414 is representative of the overall hierarchy of memory devices containing the software and data used to implement the functionality of the data processing system. The memory 414 can include, but is not limited to, the following types of devices: cache, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, SRAM, and DRAM.

FIG. 5 illustrates that the memory 414 may include several categories of software and data used in the data processing system: the operating system 452; the application programs 454; the input/output (I/O) device drivers 458; and data 455. The data 455 can include patient-specific MRI image (slice) data. FIG. 5 also illustrates the application programs 454 can include (an image reconstruction) Vascular segmentation Module 450 and a weighted CPF territory map Module 451 (with or without the color coded or color encoded source estimation map). Optionally, the application programs can also include a Fourier encoded ASL module that can cooperate with the Segmentation Module to generate color coded and/or encoded vascular maps of the brain. See, e.g., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/780,323, filed Feb. 28, 2013, entitled, Vessel Encoded Aterial Spin Labeling Using Fourier Encoding Suitable For Vascular Territory Mapping, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein.

As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the operating systems 452 may be any operating system suitable for use with a data processing system, such as OS/2, AIX, DOS, OS/390 or System390 from International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., Windows CE, Windows NT, Windows95, Windows98, Windows2000, windowsxp or other Windows versions from Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Wash., Unix or Linux or freebsd, Palm OS from Palm, Inc., Mac OS from Apple Computer, labview, or proprietary operating systems. The I/O device drivers 458 typically include software routines accessed through the operating system 452 by the application programs 454 to communicate with devices such as I/O data port(s), data storage 455 and certain memory 414 components. The application programs 454 are illustrative of the programs that implement the various features of the data (image) processing system and can include at least one application, which supports operations according to embodiments of the present invention. Finally, the data 455 represents the static and dynamic data used by the application programs 454, the operating system 452, the I/O device drivers 458, and other software programs that may reside in the memory 414.

While the present invention is illustrated, for example, with reference to the Module 450 being an application program in FIG. 5, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, other configurations may also be utilized while still benefiting from the teachings of the present invention. For example, the Module 450 may also be incorporated into the operating system 452, the I/O device drivers 458 or other such logical division of the data processing system. Thus, the present invention should not be construed as limited to the configuration of FIG. 5 which is intended to encompass any configuration capable of carrying out the operations described herein. Further, Module 450 can communicate with or be incorporated totally or partially in other components, such as an MRI scanner 75, interface/gateway or workstation 60.

The I/O data port can be used to transfer information between the data processing system, the workstation, the MRI scanner, the interface/gateway and another computer system or a network (e.g., the Internet) or to other devices or circuits controlled by the processor. These components may be conventional components such as those used in many conventional data processing systems, which may be configured in accordance with the present invention to operate as described herein.

The segmentation analysis contemplated by embodiments of the invention can be used with reconstruction of various medical image data sets whether “raw” or pre-processed using various processing methods such as, but not limited to that proposed by Wong et al, US 2012/0271157 A1, Mapping Vascular Perfusion Territories Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if recited in full herein. Stated differently, output from this other analysis can be used as input for the segmentation analysis tools/methods/programs/modules/algorithms described herein.

Embodiments of the invention provide a novel vascular territory mapping method requiring minimal operator intervention and simple post-processing routines that are suitable for clinical implementation. In addition, the methods can provide voxel-wise quantitative mapping of blood flow in the brain.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof, Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein. 

That which is claimed:
 1. An automated vascular territory segmentation method to identify arterial source location, comprising: providing at least one source image data set of a brain of a subject; electronically applying a three-dimensional connectivity clustering analysis to the brain image in image space on a voxel-wise basis to identify locations of small clusters of voxels having at least one image parameter that is substantially the same to identify a potential x, y source vessel location; electronically generating a first quantity of clustered territories based on the electronically applying step, each clustered territory having at least one associated source location in x, y coordinates; then electronically mapping source locations of the clustered territories in 2-D label space with source locations clustered based on spatial connectivity, wherein a respective clustered territory may have multiple neighboring source locations depending on detection resolution, vessel diameter, and vessel turns in a respective label plane; electronically generating a second quantity of clustered territories based on the mapped source locations, wherein the second quantity of clustered territories is less than the first quantity of clustered territories, and wherein multiple three-dimensional spatial clusters may be associated with a single source; then calculating a centroid distance to label space for each of the second quantity of clustered territories; then electronically determining if multiple territories are associated with a single source to evaluate vascular connectivity, wherein different clustered territories are identified as belonging to a single source if an associated calculated centroid distance is smaller than a detection resolution; then electronically generating at least one color-coded cerebral blood flow (CBF) territory map using source locations based on the vascular connectivity.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one color coded CBF map comprises at least one CBF weighted territory map.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising electronically generating at least one source location estimation map with color code sources numbered in a defined numerical order associated with cluster size and displaying the generated CBF weighted territory map and the source estimation map.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronically applying the three-dimensional connectivity clustering analysis is carried out to identify voxel intensity for indicating source locations at an x, y location of a Cartesian coordinate system with identical coordinate values or within 1 unit in either an x and/or y direction of each other.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, before the electronically determining step, electronically reviewing territory sizes and excluding territories having about 30 voxels or less from territories for the electronically determining step.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the small clusters of the applying the three-dimensional connectivity clustering have at least about 4 neighboring voxels having common source location coordinates in x, y Cartesian coordinates.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the source image data set comprises MRI image data, and wherein the source MRI image data comprises A/P and R/L image volumes.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the source image data set is provided from a medical data base and the method is carried out as a post-image data acquisition method of vascular territory segmentation for providing an analysis module at a clinician computer.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronically generating the at least one color-coded CBF territory map is carried out to generate at least one CBF territory map as a two-dimensional color-encoded blood flow map that combines X and Y encoded primary and secondary peak data to visually indicate anterior/posterior and right/left directional components of respective feeding arteries using defined colors, the CBF territory map further configured to visually indicate an amount of blood flow associated with each voxel using brightness of intensity, with increased brightness associated with increased blood flow.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the color-coded CBF territory map indicates a respective feeding artery per voxel in a unique color.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein a right internal carotid artery is shown in blue, a left internal carotid artery is shown in red, a right vertebral artery is shown in cyan, and a left vertebral artery is shown in yellow.
 12. The method of claim 3, further comprising displaying the at least one CBF weighted territory map and the at least one source estimation location map concurrently on a display.
 13. An image processing circuit configured to carry out the method of claim
 1. 14. A data processing circuit comprising at least one processor configured to: (i) apply a three-dimensional connectivity clustering analysis to a brain image in image space on a voxel-wise basis to identify locations of small clusters of voxels having at least one image parameter that is substantially the same to identify a potential x, y source vessel location; (ii) generate a first quantity of clustered territories based on the electronically applying step, each clustered territory having at least one associated source location in x, y coordinates; then (iii) map source locations of the clustered territories in 2-D label space with source locations clustered based on spatial connectivity, wherein a respective clustered territory may have multiple neighboring source locations depending on detection resolution, vessel diameter, and vessel turns in a respective label plane; (iv) generate a second quantity of clustered territories based on the mapped source locations, wherein the second quantity of clustered territories is less than the first quantity of clustered territories, and wherein multiple three-dimensional spatial clusters may be associated with a single source; then (v) calculate a center of mass (centroid) distance to label space for each of the second quantity of clustered territories; then (vi) determine (a) if multiple territories are associated with a single source and (b) if a single source is associated with multiple sources to establish vascular connectivity based on the calculated centroid distances to label space to further resolve identified source locations; and (vii) generate at least one color coded cerebral blood flow (CBF) territory map using the identified source locations.
 15. The circuit of claim 14, wherein different clustered territories of the second quantity of clustered territories are identified as belonging to a single source if a corresponding calculated centroid distance to label space is smaller than a detection resolution.
 16. The circuit of claim 14, wherein an estimated single source of a respective clustered territory of the second quantity of clustered territories is divided into multiple sources if the respective calculated centroid distance to label space is greater than a detection resolution.
 17. The circuit of claim 14, wherein the circuit is configured to resolve source locations of vascular sources based on the vascular connectivity analysis, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to interrogate a high resolution MRI angiogram with a CBF map to confirm a suspect source location.
 18. The circuit of claim 14 further comprising at least one display in communication with the at least one processor, wherein the at least one color-coded CBF territory map comprises at least one weighted color-coded CBF territory map, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate at least one source location estimation map with color coded sources numbered in a defined numerical order associated with cluster size, and wherein the circuit is configured to display the generated weighted CBF territory map with the source estimation map on the at least one display.
 19. The circuit of claim 14, wherein the at least one image parameter that is substantially the same is intensity indicating respective source location coordinates in one of an x or y direction or in both x and y directions with identical coordinate values or within 1 coordinate value of each other, and wherein the small clusters in the step of applying the three-dimensional connectivity clustering are defined by at least about 4 neighboring voxels having like intensity.
 20. The circuit of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to apply the three-dimensional connectivity clustering analysis to identify voxel intensity for indicating source locations at an x, y location of a Cartesian coordinate system with identical coordinate values or within 1 unit in either an x and/or y direction of each other.
 21. The circuit of claim 14, wherein the circuit is configured to review territory sizes and exclude territories having about 30 voxels from the or less from territories used to generate the at least one color-coded CBF map.
 22. The circuit of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is in communication with a display associated with an MR Scanner and/or a clinician workstation.
 23. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a non-transitory computer readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to apply a three-dimensional connectivity clustering analysis to a brain image in image space on a voxel-wise basis to identify locations of small clusters of voxels having at least one image parameter that is substantially the same to identify a potential x, y source vessel location; computer readable program code configured to generate a first quantity of clustered territories based on the electronically applying step, each clustered territory having at least one associated source location in x, y coordinates; then computer readable program code configured to map source locations of the clustered territories in 2-D label space with source locations clustered based on spatial connectivity, wherein a respective clustered territory may have multiple neighboring source locations depending on detection resolution, vessel diameter, and vessel turns in a respective label plane; computer readable program code configured to generate a second quantity of clustered territories based on the mapped source locations, wherein the second quantity of clustered territories is less than the first quantity of clustered territories, and wherein multiple three-dimensional spatial clusters may be associated with a single source; computer readable program code configured to calculate a centroid distance to label space for each of the second quantity of clustered territories; computer readable program code configured to determine if multiple territories are associated with a single source to establish vascular connectivity, wherein different clustered territories are identified as belonging to a single source if a distance between calculated centroids is smaller than a detection resolution; computer readable program code configured to generate at least one color coded 2-D cerebral blood flow (CBF) territory map; and computer readable program code configured to generate at least one color coded 2-D source estimation map with numbers representing different clusters in color and number order based on cluster size.
 24. A clinician workstation comprising: at least one display in communication with the circuit of claim
 14. 25. An MR Scanner comprising or being in communication with the circuit of claim
 14. 